Pacquiao vs. Marquez IV: What would be Manny’s perfect game plan against Juan Manuel?

Freddie Roach transformed Pacquiao from a single fisted brawler into a well rounded fighter. He added techniques to Pacquiao’s built in strength–power and speed–a lethal combination. Pacquiao dominated every single opponent that Bob Arum put in front of him.

He dominated all but not Marquez: this is simply because of style. Every fight Pacquiao learned one or two new tricks that might be effective at some point during a fight but can be easily adjusted by a counter puncher like Marquez.

Pacquiao will easily knockdown brawlers like Rios or Katsidis. Because they will trade punches with Pacquiao. Power vs. power, but Pacquiao’s speed will be the edge.

However, if you put Marquez or Mayweather Jr.–both are brilliant counter punchers–Pacquiao will always have difficulty. There is always a never ending debate whose style will prevail if Pacman and Mayweather will finally meet.

Back to Marquez. Why Pacquiao unable to knockout Marquez or unable to score even a knockdown during the third fight? Pacquiao was not able to throw and land the same volume of combinations during the first fight. Why? because Pacquiao knows very well Marquez and Marquez knows very well Pacquiao.

Pacquiao knows that once he throw a punch, Marquez is waiting to counter. In the third fight Pacquiao after throwing combos, would pull back his hands to cover–defending the counter, although Marquez not thrown a punch. Because Pacman anticipated that Dinamita will fire and while Marquez also anticipated that Pacman will throw more than 3 combos.

To beat Marquez is to fight the way he fight Marquez in the first round of the first fight. Speed… speed… speed… combo… combo.. combo… aggression… aggression… overwhelm Marquez. Pacman should not give Marquez the time to think–keep him busy evading his fast combo.

Pacman is faster than Marquez, Pacman can absorb Marquez best shot while Marquez cannot. So why not let his hands go and bombard Marquez with bombs till he drop.

But this is easier said than done. Pacquiao needs to train hard as he can and his oxygen full and be in his old self because Marquez is highly motivated not only looking to counter but to knockout his arch-rival.

In a video, Marquez looked very sharp and rip–hulking up muscles. I’m sure he will not look like a bloated lightweight come fight night.

If Pacquaio and Marquez both look to end this fight before the final bell then brace yourself, but if not, then even the idea of a fifth fight would make me cover my ears–not to hear the same drama.